By the johnson



March 24, 1931. B SCHUYLER Re. 18,010

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Original Filed Nov. 1, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 1 23 C V 0 2a 5 J /-Z I, I PM March 24, 1931. F. B.SCHUYLER DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Original Filed Nov. 1,1926 2 SheetsSheet 2 Reisaued Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK B. SCHUYLER, DECEASED, LATE OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, BY THEJOHNSON WASHER COMPANY, ASSIGNEE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, AND CLEVELAND,OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE JOHNSON WASHER COMPANY, ACOR- PORATION 01'! CALIFORNIA DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINESOriginal No. 1,742,616, dated January 7, 1930, Serial No. 145,535, filedNovember 1, 1926. Renewed June 20, 1928. Application for reissue filedMay 17, 1930. Serial No. 453,427.

This invention relates to clothes washing machines of the impeller typeand especially to a driving mechanism whereby an oscillating movement istransmitted to the im- 5 peller. I

The object of the presentinvention is to generall improve and simplifythe construction an operation of washing machines of the impeller typeand to provide an impeller type of washer which will ermit proper andefficient handling of all viding means whereby the velocity of the waterand movement of the clothes may be .15 regulated so that injury orexcess wear on the fabric is prevented.

The invention more specifically stated,

' embodies in combination with an impeller and its driving shaft,gearing connections of simple nature whereby the amplitude ofoscillation of the impeller may be varied while maintaining itsfrequency substantially constant; the result being that-the peripheralvelocity of the impeller may be increased or its speed as indicated bythe number of strokes per minute.

One form which the invention may assume is shown by way of illustrationin the accompanying drawings, in which:

F1 re 1 is a central vertical section of the washing machine.

FigureQ is a horizontal the line IIII of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the notched segment 20 and theoperating lever19.

Referring to the drawings, in detail and particularly to Figures'l and2, A indicates a tub of suitable construction, B a frame su porting thesame, C an impeller, D the drivin shaft whereby an oscillating movementis transmitted to the impeller and E indicates, in eneral, a drivingmechanism whereby the riving shaft and the impeller are actuated. Thetub is, in this instance, centrally perforated to receive 'a bearingtube 2 and a bearing bracket 3, the tube and the bracket being connectedby a threaded connection, as indicated at 4. This connec- 50 tionsecures the members with relation to section taken on abrics or clothesfrom the coarsest to the most delicate by protherewith. The

decreased substantially Without change in type of connection isof'further importance as it permits endwise movement of the impellerwhen drying out the tub, cleaning the same or otherwise.

The driving mechanism generally indicated at E is enclosed in a housingconsisting of a base section 7 and a cover section 8, the

cover section being, in this instance, a part of the bearing bracket 3,as it is formed integral I driving shaft extends through the housingsection 8 and it is j'our-, naled therein, as at 9. It also extendsdownwardly into the housing section 7 and the lower end is journaled ina bearing member 10.

' Keyed or otherwise secured on the driving shaft intermediate thebearing members 9 and 10 is a gear pinion 11 and pivotally mounted as at12 in a lateral extension of the housing indicated at 13, is a rockerarm 14 and formed on the swinging end of the rocker arm are a pair ofreciprocable driving gears or segmental racks 15 and 16 of unequalradius and hence of different linear speed and mechanical advantage.These racks are disposed on opposite sides of the gear pinion 11 and inthe same plane and means are provided whereby either rack may be movedinto mesh with the pinion. This is accomplished, as follows Extendingdown one side of the tub is a shaft 17. The lower end of this'shaftextends through the housing sections 7 and 8 and is journaled therein,as indicated at 18. Secured on the shaft intermediate the bearingmembers is an excentric 12. This excentric forms a. pivotal support forthe rocker arm 14, previously referred to. The upper end of the shaft isprovided with an operatspeed or velocity of the impeller will ing lever19 which is adapted to be swung over a notched segment 20. The leverserves the function of rotating the shaft 17 and the excentric 12secured on the lower end thereof and it may berotated through an arc of180. The segment in the upper end of this shaft is provided with threenotches. The operating lever engages the notch 21 when the excentricassumes the position shown in Figure 2. It engages the opposite notch 22when the excentric is rotated 180 and it engages the intermediate notch23 when a neutral position is to be assumed, as will hereinafter bedescribed.

Endwise movement is imparted, to the rocker arm 14 and the gear racks'15 and 16 carried thereby during rotary movement of the excentric.\Vhen the excentric assumes the position shown in Figure 2, the gearrack 16 will intermesh with the pinion 11. \Vhen the excentric is turned180, endwise movement is imparted to the rocker arm causing the gearsegment 15 to move into engagement with the pinion-and when theexcentric assumes an intermediate position, neither rack will engage thepinion and the neutral position referred to IS, accordingly, resumed.

An oscillating movement is imparted to the rocker arm and the gear rackscarried thereby, when the washing machine is in operation and thismovement is transmitted as follows J ournaled in one end of the housingmenibers 7 and 8 is a shaft 25. Secured on the shaft is a worm gear 26and carried by the worm gear is a crank pin 27. Similarly mounted on therocker arm 14 is a crank pin 28 and connecting the pins 27 and 28 is aconnecting rod 29. Journaled in one side of the housing is a primarydriving shaft 30. Secured thereon andmeshing with the worm gear 26 is aworm pinion 31. The primary driving shaft is connected in any suitablemanner with an electric motor or the like indicated at 32. Hence, whenthe motor is in operation, the shaft 30 will be rotated and this rotarymovement will be transmitted through the gears 26 and 31 to oscillatethe rocker arm 14 through means of the pins 27 and 28 and the connectingrod 29.

If the gear racks assume a neutral position, no movement will betransmitted to the pinion, but if either rack is moved into mesh, withinthe pinion. an oscillating movement will be transmitted to the inion,the driving shaft and the impeller and the washing ma'- chine will be inoperation. The peripileral least when engagement is made with the gearrack 16 and will be considerably increased when the pinion meshes withthe gear rack 15. Eflicient handling of all fabrics or clothes from thecoarsest to the most, delicate is thereby taken care of, as the .velocitof the water andthe movement of the clot es may the 1 racks carriedthereb another of the rack ars'into mesh with the constant attention andlubricating troubles.

Leakage of water from the hub is prevented, removal of the impeller ispermitted and ready control is maintained at all times, as the speed ofthe impeller is regulated by the controlling'lever. which may be swungfrom one notch to another as the operator. may desire.

While certain features of the present in vention are more or lessspecifically described, it should be understood that various changes maybe resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly thatvarious materials and finishes of the several parts employed may be suchas the manufacturer may decide or varying conditions or -uses maydemand.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is':

1. In a washing-machine, a driving shaft, an impeller on the "shaft, agear pinion on the shaft, a pair of rack barsvone on each side of thepinion, means whereby an endwise movement back and forth is transmittedto the rack bars, and means whereby either rack bar may be moved into orout of mesh with the pinion.

2. In a washing machine, a driving shaft,

an impeller on the shaft, a gear pinion on the shaft. a pair of rackbars. one on each side of the pinion. means whereby an endwise movementback and forth is transmitted to the rack bars, and a' single actuatingmember whereby either rack bar maybe moved into mesh with the pinion ormaintained out of engagement therewith.

3. In a washing machine, a driving shaft, an impeller on the shaft. agear pinion secured to the shaft, a rocker arm, a pivotal support forone end of the arm, a pair of gear racks on the swinging end of the armand disposed one on each side of the gear inion, means whereby eitherrack bar may moved into or out of mesh with the gear pinion, and meansfor transmitting an oscillating movement to the rocker arm and the gearracks.

4., In a washing machine, a driving shaft, :"lan impeller; on the shaft.a gear pinion se- =cure'd to the shaft, a rocker arm, a pivotal supportfor one end of the'arm, a air of gear racks on the swinging end of t earm and disposed one on each side of the gear pinion, means whereby anendwise movement is impartedc'to the rocker arm and the gear so as tomove one or the gear racks.

5. In a Washing machine, a driving shaft, an impeller on the shaft, 2.-gear pinion secured on the shaft, a rocker arm, an excentric memberforming a pivotal support for one end of the arm, a pair of gear racksmounted on the swingin end of the arm and disposed one on each si e ofthe gear pinion, means for rotating the excentric so as to impart anendwise movement to the rocker arm, and thereby bringing one or anotherof ciprocatin the gear racks into mesh with the gear pinion, and meansfor transmitting an oscillating movement to the rocker arm and the gearracks.

6. In a washing machine, a driving shaft, an impeller on the shaft, :1gear pinion se cured on the shaft, a rocker arm, an expentric memberforming a pivotal support for one end of the arm, a pair of gear racksmounted on the swinging end of the arm and disposed one on each side ofthe gear pinion, means forrotatin-g the excentric so as to impartanendwise movement to the rocker arm and thereby bring one or another ofthe gear racks into mesh withthe gear pinion, means for securing theexcentric against movement when one or another of the gear racks ismoved into mesh, and means for transmitting an oscillating movement tothe rocker arm and the gear racks.

r 7. In a washing machine, a driving shaft, an impeller on the shaft, aplurality of re ciprocating driving membersadapted to oscillate theshaft at different speeds and means for selecting and connecting any oneof the driving members with the shaft and for maintaining the otherdriving member out of engagement with the shaft.

8. In a washing machine, a driving shaft, an impeller on the shaft, aplurality of redriving I members adapted to oscillate t e shaft atdifferent speeds and means for selecting and connecting any one of thedriving members with the shaft and for. maintainlngthe other drivingmember out of engagement with the shaft, said means also adapted tomaintain all the driving members out of en agement with the shaft.

9. In a was ing machine a driving shaft, an impeller on the shaft, 3,gear vpinion on the shaft, a plurality of rack bars, means whereby anendwise movement back and forth is transmitted to the rack bars, andmeans whereby one of the rack bars may be moved into or out ofengagement with the pinion, said means also adapted to maintain all ofthe rack bars out of engagement with the pinion.

10. In a washing machine a driving shaft, an impeller on the shaft, agear pinion secured on the shaft, a rocker arm, an eccentric memberforming a pivotal support for one end of the arm, a pair of gear racksmounted on the swinging end of the arm, and disposed one on each side ofthe gear pinion, means for rotating the eccentric so as to impart anendwise movement to the rocker arm and thereby bring one or the other ofthe gear racks into mesh with the gear pinion, means for securing theeccentric against movement when one or another of the'gear racks ismoved into mesh with the pinion, or when both racks are out of mesh andmeans for transmitting an oscillating movement to the rocker arm and thegear racks.

11L In a washing machine the combination with a tub, of a vertical shaftmovablymounted therein and an agitating member; a rotatableconstant-speed driving mechanism underneath the tub; a plurality ofselectively usable driving gear connections of dissimilar mechanicaladvantage between the driving mechanism and the vertical shaft adaptwitha tub, of a vertical shaft traversing the bottom thereof, an agitatingmember secured to said shaft inside the tub, a. plurality ofreciprocating-driving gears movablesimultaneously at different speedsand equal frequencies adapted to oscillate said shaft selectively, meansfor operating said driving-members at a uniform frequency, and means forconnecting any one of the driving-members to said shaft selectively inoperating relation.

13. In a washing machine the combination with a tub, and a.reciprocating agitating member therein of a driving element operated atsubstantially constant speed and means for operatively connecting saiddriving element to said agitating member. said means includingselectively usable toothed elements of dissimilar radius for impartingto said agitating member dissimilar amplitudes of reciprocation with asubstantially fixed frequency.

14. In a washing machine. the combination with a tub, of an oscillatableagitating eleadapted to impart to said rack element a motion of uniformoscillation. said rack element having plural sets of driving teethlocated at unequal distances from its pivot,

cooperating toothed means coaxial with said shaft, and meansfor'connecting' said rack element to said shaft b 'way of either of saidsets of driving teeth, selectively, soas to impart to said a 'tatingelement any one of a plurality of issimilar amplitudes of oscillation.

15. In a washing machine, an oscillatable agitating element, a-drivingelement operating at uniform speed, and movement transmitting meanscomprising mechanism for connecting said driving element to anddisconnectin it from said washing element, and inclu 'n selectivelyoperable gear members adapte said oscillating element any one of aplurality of amplitudes while retaining the frequency of suchoscillations substantially the same, in combination with manuallyoperable devices accessible during the washing operation to eflect theconnecting an selecting movements of said mechanism.

16. In a washing machine, an agitator, a driving mechanism thereforincluding a rotary reciprocating member having a plurality of sets ofteeth arranged in arcs of unequal radii and means for connecting saidmember to said agitator through any one of said sets of teethselectively for actuating the agitator at different speeds.

17. In a washin machine, a motor, an agitator, and drivin means ofdifferent speeds for actuating t e agitator, including a duplex gearsector operatively connected to said motor, and means for connectingeither of said sector agitator.

18. In a washing machine, an agitator, a multiple speed drlvemechanismincluding a duplex reciprocating gear sector, a motor for reciprocatingsaid gear sector and means to connect said sector to said agitatorthrough either of-its sets of teeth for ac'tuating'the agitator inaccordance with either of said speeds.

19. In a washing machine, an agitator, a one-way rotatable shaft, amultiple speed drive mechanism including a crank arm car- 'ried by saidshaft, a multiple gear sector operatively connected to said arm andhavdrivingprovisions of different itch ra ii for translating themovement 0 said shaft into reciprocating movements, cooperatinggear-means adapted to be actuated by said sector and to transmit itsmotion to said agitator, and means for operatively and selectivelyconnecting said sector to said agitator through either one of itsdriving pro visions. I

20. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub of an oscillatableagitating element mounted therein with its axis substantially vertical,a driving element of substantially fixed speed type, means includingseparate trains of gearing of unequal mechanical advantage or connectingsaid driving element to said agitating element in opand arranged tolmpart to gears to operate said v

